DePaul University collaborates with UK charity to assist policymakers and homelessness agencies

Newswise — CHICAGO — The critical issue of homelessness and how to better assist policymakers and those who deliver services to the homeless, is at the heart of a new Institute for Global Homelessness, a collaboration announced Sept. 26 by DePaul University and Depaul International.

The institute will be based in Chicago at DePaul University, the country’s largest Catholic university in the United States. It is the brainchild of Depaul International, a London-based charity that supports homeless and marginalized people around the world.

Both are Vincentian organizations that live out and continue the values and legacy of St. Vincent de Paul, a 17th century French priest who devoted his life to serving and caring for others.

As Depaul International expanded its outreach from helping homeless youth in London, to assisting the homeless in other countries, including Ireland, Slovakia, Ukraine and the United States, it was sought out for advice and expertise by government departments, NGOs and others.

“Whilst we can bring our experience to bear in advising on some of these issues, the primary purpose of Depaul International is in the delivery of services, rather than acting as consultants,” said Mark McGreevy, group chief executive.

Depaul International commissioned desktop research on whether there were any academic, institutional or NGO bodies operating at an international level with a primary focus on developing or advising policymakers, homelessness organizations or initiatives, and by providing online or accessible resources to develop strategy and improve service delivery.

“The research indicated there was no single academic department, international agency or NGO providing dedicated training, interactive service or promoting best practices in working with the homeless at a global level,” McGreevy said.

Because of their shared Vincentian values and belief in helping the most disadvantaged people around the world in action, not just words, Depaul International reached out to DePaul University with the idea to establish an institute to provide research, leadership development and creative consultancy in homelessness.

“Looking out for the needs of the poor is central to our mission as a Vincentian university,” said the Rev. Dennis H. Holtschneider, C.M., president of DePaul University. “We are honored to collaborate with Depaul International to strengthen expertise on homelessness and do as much as we can to help alleviate this critical global issue.”

“Homelessness is a social issue of global importance,” noted McGreevy. “Having a home ranks with access to water, food and education as a fundamental human right. However, for 1.1 billion of the 7 billion people on this planet a place to call home isn't an option.

“The Institute for Global Homelessness will be working for everyone to have a place to call home and a stake in their community,” McGreevy said. “We at Depaul International welcome this collaboration with DePaul University in creating something that will have an impact on the lives of homeless people around the world.”

Rosanne Haggerty, an internationally recognized leader in developing strategies to end homelessness, advised the planning process for the new institute. She is the president of the New York-based not-for-profit organization, Community Solutions.

”The Institute for Global Homelessness fills a critical gap in the mission of ending homelessness worldwide," said Haggerty. "It will be the first academic-based research center to enhance our insights on effective practice and policy, through data, and then apply these findings to train communities on the best approaches for seeking lasting solutions to homelessness."

The institute will create a comprehensive repository of research on a global scale and examine ways to help address homelessness and alleviate poverty. A primary objective of the collaboration is to equip those who manage homeless shelters and other related service with the knowledge, skills and insight they need to help end homelessness.

A fellowship program and new academic courses at DePaul University are planned to provide training to emerging and existing leaders. At the outset, both organizations will focus on the actions and resources required to bring the institute into operation, with a formal launch planned for 2014.

“This is an institute that wants to deliver change,” McGreevy said. “We aim to help people think differently about the problem of homelessness and to make them successful change agents. As committed, willing and capable individuals we take a 21st century approach to problem-solving — this is collaborative, determined and radical in order to address the deficit of information on homelessness internationally and to mobilize people in a movement for change to end it.”

This is also the spirit of DePaul University, according to Holtschneider. “We carry on the same mission that Vincent de Paul embarked on more than 400 years ago.”

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NOTE TO JOURNALISTS: The word DePaul/Depaul is spelled differently for each of the organizations in this release. Both are derived from St. Vincent de Paul, but the name of the university is DePaul University, capital “D” and capital “P” with no spacing. The name of the London-based charity is Depaul International, capital “D” and a small “p” with no spacing.More information about DePaul University is online at www.depaul.edu.More information about Depaul International is at www.depaulinternational.org.

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DePaul University in Chicago takes its name from St. Vincent de Paul, a 17th century French priest who devoted his life to serving and caring for others. This stained glass image of the saint is on display at the university’s downtown Chicago campus. His focus on service to others is at the heart of a new collaboration between DePaul University and Depaul International, a UK-based charity, to establish an Institute for Global Homelessness.